Point detonating fitse



May 26, 1931;. F. .B. HALE POINT DETONATING FUSE 5 Sheets-Sheet l 4filed Oct.' 5, 1929 V INVENTOR.

BY g- Z ATTORNEYA May 26, 1931. B, H 1,806,877

POINT DETONATING FUSE I Filed 001:. 5, 1929 S Sheets-Sheet 2 amwmw v INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY/ v By/ w May 26, 1931. F. B. HALE 1,806,877

POINT DETONATING FUSE Filed Oct. 5. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

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v ATTORNEY! v In I 3 Z3 Z i Patented May 26, V 1931 FRANK B. HALE, OF EDGEWOOD ARSENAL, MARYLAND roINT DETONA'II'NG FUSE Application filed October 5, 1929. Serial No. 397,682.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 80, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention described herein may be manufactured. and-used by or for the Government for Government purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates in general to actuating devices and more particularly has reference to a fuse construction.

Previous to this time numerous accidents have occurred in transporting and handling projectiles by, reason of inadvertent actuation of the fuse mechanism. Also,mish'aps have not been uncommon where projectiles have been prematurely exploded before being v ejected from the muzzle of an ordnance piece.

The present invention is directed primarily to a fuse'for mounting on projectiles used in muzzle loading mortars. A shell fired from a weapon of this character is subjected to a shock attended by discharge and is usually caused to rotate while describing its trajectory previous to the shock incident to 1mpact on hitting an object. 7

In efficient flight a projectile is caused to rotate to prevent tumbling. A rotating shell is usually attended by more accurate markmanship on the part of a gunner and a material increase in the range of a weapon is effected in-this manner.

The shock and movement which attend the 30, discharge and flight of a projectile are utilized in the fuse formin the subject matter of this invention to arm t 1e same.

' a projectile equipped with the fuse may be transported and handled with the utmost as safety preparatory to loading ina mortar and as the same is positively armed, operation on impact with an objective is insured.

An object of this invention is to provide a fuse WlllCh may be safely transported and Another object of this invention is' to provide a fuse which is'protected against inadvertent operation in the barrel of an ordnance plece. Y 5 Still another object is to provide a fuse which isv unaffected by shocks or movement except when subjected to the shock attended by the firing and the rotation accompanying the flight of a projectile. A further object of this invention is to Thuswlse necessary elements comprising my invention, I

may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, w thout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In order. to make my invention more clean ly understood, I have shown in thaccompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification Fig. 1 is a sectional view, taken on the longitudinal axis of the point detonating fuse forming the subject matter of this invention, showing the relation of the parts of the fuse priorto the discharge of the projectile on which it is mounted.

Fig. 2 is a sidev view partly in section, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking inthe direction of the Fig. 6 is a side view partly in section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view taken on line 77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a side view partly in section taken V .reference throughout and more especially to Fig. 1 there is shown the fuse forming the subject matter of this invention, comprising a body formed to provide an ogival head 1, having an integral neck 2, threaded as at 3, for seating in-the fuse socket of the shell on which it is intended to mount the same. i

A burster tube 4 having a bottom force fit closure 5 and provided with a threaded portion 6 on the upper portion of the side walls thereof, is screwed in a threaded aperture centrally formed in the neck 2 of the fuse. A container 7 having an outwardly extending flange 8 formed on the neck is seated in a constricted aperture forming an extension of the bore containing the burster tube. The container 7 is adapted to be held in position within'the aperture by the rim of the tube 4 pressing against the flange 8 formed thereon.

The head of the fuse is formed with a horizontal bore 9 extending partially therethrough as shown in Figure 2, for receiving a cylindrical bar 11 adapted to slide there-, in. A portion of the bore adjacent the open end is of enlarged diameter as at 12 adapted to receive a closure 13 resting against the shoulder formed by the reduced extension of the bore. The closure is held in place by crimping as at 14 in the bott m of the head subsequent to inserting the same.

The bar 11 is provided at one end with an aperture adapted to receive a container 15 fixed therein'by a forced fit. A longitudinal groove 16 is formed in the side of the bar 11 in which is adapted to fit a pin 17 formed integral with a screw 18 engaging an aperture 19 formedin the side of the fuse head to prevent rotation ofthe bar on its longitudinal axis. The bar is also provided with a recess 21 in which is adapted to fit a plug 22 having the outer end thereof fitted flush with the periphery of the bar. The head of the fuse is provided in addition with a recess 23 in alignment with the aperture 19 on the opposite side'of the bore 9 to receive the plug 22 which is free to slide, when the same is in alignment with the recess.

The head as shown in Figure 1 is formed with a transverse bore 24 extending over a portion of the bore 9 adapted to receive a sliding bar 25. The bar 11 is formed with a transverse groove 26 as shown in Figs. 6

and 8 to allow seating of the bar 25 in the bore 24. It will be apparent that when the bar 11 is so positioned that the groove 26 coincides with the bore 24 that the bar 11 will be locked into positionas shown in Fig. 2 with the container 15 out of alignment with the container 7.

The tube 4 is intended to {contain a burster charge, while the container-'7 is filled with a priming charge 27. The container 15 fitted in the aperture provided in the bar 11 is adapted to receive a detonating charge 28.

The neck 2 of the fuse is provided with a 7 vertical bore 29 fopening into and extending past the bore 241 A cylindrical weight 31 provided with acentral extension 32, adapted to project through a corresponding aperture 33, as shown in"Figure 4, formed in the bar 25, as shown in Fig. 1, is adapted to slide in the bore 29, being held in the uppermost part thereof by a helical spring 56. The walls of the bore 29 adjacent the end are threaded for receiving a screw fitted closure 34 adapted to retain the spring 56 in the bore.

The cylindrical weight 31 is provided with a transverse aperture 35, as shown in Fig. 5, through which there is adapted to extend a cotter pin 36, partly illustrated in Fig. 3. The body of the fuse, as shown in Fig. 7, is provided with a transverse aperture 37 with which the aperture 35 in the weight is adapted to be aligned for receiving the cotter pin 36 which is provided with a ring 38 to facilitate removal.

The bore 24 is enlarged adjacent the opening thereof in the side of the fuse as at 39, as shown in Fig. 5, to accommodate an enlarged head 41 formed on the end of the bar 25. A helical spring 42 is adapted to be mounted on the bar 25, one end fitting against the rim formed by the bore 24 and the. other end against the head 41 on the bar.

The nose of the fuse is formed with a seat 43 having a top closure 44 correspondin with the ogival stream line of the nose. 1% downwardly extending bar 45 formed integral with the closure 44 is adapted to slide in a vertical aperture provided in the partition between the recess 43 and the bore 24 and centrally positioned with respect to the head of the fuse. A helical spring 46 is mounted over the bar 45, one end resting against the inner surface of the closure 44 and the other end seated on the bottom of the recess 43.

The closure 44 is held in alignment with the nose of the fuse by a wire 47 passing through the head of the fuse and through an aperture 48 in the bar 45, crimped in f place at each end outside of the fuse body as at 49. The bar 25 is formed with a groove 51, as shown in Fig. 2, adapted to receive a pointed pin 53 integrally formed on the end of the bar 45 which latter is adapted to rest on the rim of the bar 25 adjacent the groove so that the pin is out of contact therewith.

A channel 54 is formed in the head of the fuse opening at one end in the bore 9 and at the other in the seat 43. The detonator charge 28 is adapted to be positioned,

I readily understood by first having reference armed relation.

to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, wherein the fuse is shown with the parts completely in un- The bar 11 carrying the detonating charge 28 is rested against the stop closure 13 with the charge in alignment with the channel 54 and so held by the bar or safety fork 25 engaging the groove 26.

The safety fork 25 is held in position against the force of the spring 42 by the projection 32 on the weight or set-back pellet 31 engaging the aperture 33 therein. The set-back pellet is held in the uppermost portion of the bore 29 by the spring 56 mounted .therein and positively secured by the cotter pin 36 passing through the aperture therein.

The firing pin 57, formed on the rod carrying the cap 44 of the fuse is fixed in position by the wire 47, the end of the rod resting on the safety fork and the pin proj ecting down in the groove 51 forward therein, the cap at the same time being held upward in addition by the spring 46.

When it is desired to load a projectile carrying the fuse in a weapon, the cotter key 36 is withdrawn, the removal of the same be ing facilitated bythe grasp afforded by the ring 38 attached to the key. With the removal of the key the set-back pellet is free from movement against the force of the spring 56 and if firing a muzzle loading weapon, a projectile, with the key withdrawn may then be dropped in the piece.

The shock incident to the impact of the projectile with the striker pin in a mortar and the firing of the projectile is adapted to effect the withdrawal of the extension 32 from the aperture 33 by reason of the inertia of the weight 31, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby releasing the safety fork 25 which is forced outward for contact with theinterior surface of the barrel by the force of the spring 42 as shown in Fig. 4.

It will be particularlynoted however that i the fork is not free to become disengaged from the fuse head until ejection of the same from the muzzle of the barrel When it will be thrown outward by reason of the centrifugal force set up by rotation of the projectile. Previous to the safety fork leaving the fuse, inadvertentactuation of. the detonating charge will not cause fragmentation of the 1 fuse or ignition of the priming charge by reason of the exit provided for any gases so' generated through the channels 54 and After the fork has left the fuse, however,

the same is still disarmed by reason of the the bar 11 carryin the charge. The charge is in vertical an longitudinal alignment with the pin 53 after release of the safety fork by engagement of the sliding pin 22 carried by the bar 11, with the recess 23 in the side of the bore 9 as shown in Fig. 7.

On impact of the projectile with an objective, the cap is forced downwardly by con tact therewith against the force of the spring 46, shearing the wire 47 as shown in Fig. 8, bringing the pin 53 in contact with the detonating charge and causing the explosion thereof. With the exploding of the detonating charge, the priming charge 27 in alignment therewith is ignited and in turn the booster charge causes a reaction of the contents of the projectile. I

There is accomplished by this invention a fuse which affords the'safe transportation and handling'of projectiles on which it is mounted, protected against inadvertent operation prior to use, being positively locked and unaffected by shocks or movement, functionin only when subjected to the shock attende by the firing and the rotation acc'ompanying the flight of a-projectile, after the lock has been removed.

' While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to beunderstood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein" 7 set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations 12o may be made, therein, by those skilled in the bar so that the primer charge is out of line with the detonator charge, set back actuated means for normally maintaining said locking means in locked position, and a firing pin positioned upon the head of said fuse and extending within said body, said firing pin normally resting upon said locking means.

, means for maintaimng it in engaged relation with the locking means, the head of said fuse being provided with a recessed portion, a closure therefor carrying a firing pin adapted to extend within the fuse body so as to normally rest upon said locking means, a spring around said firing pin between the end of the recessed portion and the closure adapted to normally maintain the firing pin above the detonator charge, and means extending through said firing pin and the fuse body adapted to be sheared off by the force of impact for normally preventing the firing pin from contacting with the detonator charge.

3. A fuse for a projectile comprising a body, a-fixedlypositioned detonator charge carried in the body, a primer charge carried in a movable bar mounted in the body, means in said body for normally locking said movable bar so that the primer charge is out of line with the detonator charge, set back actu-. ated means for normally maintaining said locking means in locked position, the head of said fuse being provided with a recessed portion adapted to be closed by a closure carryingfiring pin, said firing pin normally restmg upon said locklng means, means 1n the body communicating with'therecessed portion and with the detonator charge when the latter is out of aligned position with the primer charge, and similar means communicating with the recessed portion and the exterior of the fuse for allowing the explosive products of the detonator charge to escape from the fuse when the detonator charge is prematurely fired.

4. A fuse comprising a body having a fixedprimer charge therein, said body hav-- ing a channel formed therein above the primer charge, a bar slidably mounted. in said channel, said bar adapted to carry a detonator charge, said body being provided with a second channel above said first men- 'tioned channel, a safety, fork slidably mounted in said second channel, said safety fork adapted to be engaged by said sliding bar and to normally lock the same in such position that the primer charge is out of line with the detonator charge, spring pressed means for removing the safety fork from the fuse, set back actuated means for normally retaining the safety fork in position to lock the sliding bar so that the primer charge is out of line with the detonator charge, and a firing pin in the head of the fuse adapted to extend within the fuse and to have its lower portion normally resting upon said safety fork.

:5QA fuse for a projectile comprising a body, a primer charge fixedly mounted therein, said body provided with a channel above the primer charge adapted to have a bar carrying a detonator charge slidably mounted therein, the upper portion of said bar being provided witlra groove adapted to engage a safety fork, said body being provided with asecond channel adapted to have said safety fork slidably mounted therein, the safety fork being engaged by said groove when the latter is in such position that the primer charge is out of line with the detonator charge, spring pressed means for removing thesafety fork from the fuse, set back actuated means for normally maintaining the safety fork in locking engagementwith the sliding bar, and a firing pin mounted upon the head of the fuse and extending within the body thereof, the lower portion of said firing pin normally resting upon the safety fork.

6. A fuse for a pro'ectile comprising a body having a primer 0 arge fixedly mounted therein, said body being provided with a channel having a bar carrying a detonator charge slidably mounted therein, said bar being rovided with a grooved portion adapted to be engaged by a safety fork so as to normally maintain the detonator charge out of line with the primer charge, said body being also provided with a channel adapted to have the safety fork slidably mounted therein, spring pressed means for removing the safety fork from the fuse, set back actuated means adapted to normally engage the safety fork and maintain the same in looking relation with the sliding bar, said safety fork being provided with a longitudinally extending groove adapted to receive thepoint of a firing pin extending within the fuse body and carried by the fuse head, said firing pin being provided with an enlarged portion adapted to be normally seated upon the upper surface of said safety fork.

7. A fuse for a projectile comprising a body, a primer charge fixedly mounted therein, said body provided with a channel above the primer charge adapted to have a bar carrying a detonator charge slidably mounted therein, the upper portion of said bar being provided with a groove adapted to engage a safety fork, said body being provided with a second channel adapted to have said safety fork slidably mounted therein,

the safety fork being engaged by said slid ing bar when the latter is in such position that the primer charge is out of line with the detonator charge, spring pressed means for removing the safety fork from the fuse, set back actuated means for normally main taining the safety fork in looking engagement with the sliding bar, the head of said fuse being provided with a recessed portion having a closure therefor carrying a firing pin, the lower portion of said firing pin being seated upon said safety fork, said fuse being provided with a conduit communicating with the exterior thereof and said recessed portion in the head, and a second conduit communicating with said recessed portion and with the detonator charge when the sliding bar carrying said detonator charge is in looking position.

8. A fuse for a projectile comprising a body having a primer charge fixedly mounted therein, said body being provided with a channel above the primer charge, a round bar slidably mounted in said channel, said bar being of a length-less than that of the channel and adapted to be moved to one end thereof due to centrifugal force when a shell provided with the fuse is fired, said slidable bar carrying a detonator charge, a safety fork'adapted to be normally engaged by said sliding bar when the latter is at one end of its channel so that the detonator charge carried thereby is out of alignment with the primer charge, said body being provided with a second channel within which the safety fork is slidably mounted, spring pressed means for removing the safety fork from the. fuse, set back actuated means for normally maintaining the safety fork in locked relation with the sliding bar, a firing pin mounted within the head of the shell of the fuse the lower portion thereof resting upon the safety fork, means for preventing the rotation of said sliding bar, and other means for positively maintaining the slidwith the bar, a firing pin mounted in the head of said fuse, said bar adapted to be moved into position so that the detonator charge is in alignment with the primer charge by centrifugal force when a shell with the fuse associated therewith is fired, means for preventing the rotation of said bar, and means for positively maintaining the bar so that the detonator charge is aligned with the primer charge after the shell with which the fuseis associated has been fired, said means comprising a plug mounted within a recess provided in said bar, the body of the fuse being provided with a recess adapted to be engaged by said r In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK B. HALE.

ing bar in such position that the detonator charge is' aligned with the primer charge after the shell with which the fuse is associated has been fired.

9. A fuse for a projectile comprising a body, a primer charge fixedly positioned in said body, said body being rovided with a channel having a round ar slidably mounted therein, said bar carrying a detonator charge, the length of said bar being less than that of the channel, said bar being positioned at one end of the channel so that the detonator charge therein is out of alignment with the mounted therein, spring pressed means for removing said safety fork from the body, set back actuated means for normally maintaining the safety fork in looking relation 

